The RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) is a boat type designed for practical purposes and to have quality seagoing characteristics. This has lead it to become one of the most popular boat types for holiday homes and transportation purposes in the archipelagos throughout the world. The RIB is typically designed with open deck spaces for luggage and passengers, and many of the models are able to take on many passengers especially within category C. 

If you are looking for a boat with less probability of damages in port and when docking, or less maintenance, a RIB is usually a good choice. When driving a RIB, you have less potential for damaging gelcoats, and there are less maintenance in on the RIB tubes than you typically have on a normal fiberglass boat. It also gives you a somewhat higher flexibility when entering busy and crowded ports, with the soft pontoon to protect you.

The RIB is a boat often recognized for its sporty driving characteristics and great handling in challenging weather conditions.

• The pontoons: The design, shape and placement of the pontoons heavilly influence the way the RIB handles in the water. Some RIBs have larger pontoons, positioned lower, giving stability when the boat is docked and with the pontoons touching the water surface at almost any speed. With these type of pontoons you may have a slightly shorter maintenance cycle, cleaning the pontoons during the boating season. With regards to the driving characteristics from this setup, you will feel a steady, comfortable ride, with less angle when turning. This gives more of a "go-cart-sensation" with g-forces working in a more sideways direction. With pontoons positioned higher the driving sensation is more similar to a fiberglass centre console boat. Thus it will lean over in a greater sense, with g-forces working more downwards. These pontoons typically has less maintenance during the season since they are mainly above the waterline.
• Storage compartments and deckspace: in most RIBs the the driver console is placed at the centre of the boat, or slightly to starboard. The low freeboard provides easy passing both on port and starboard side. The RIB is often used in nice weather, and all the cushions are out and fitted, but a good advice is to check for the storage of all the cushions. Go through the storage compartments and see how the cushions fit for storage. Some RIBS also have sprayhood/canopy or a harbour canopy, where you can also store cushions.
• Speed: The larger RIBs (6,5 meter and above) with the larger engine sizes available often manages speeds around 50 knots. It is important to remember that the RIB with its low freeboard, and pontoon design (discussed earlier in this text) gives different driving characteristics from that of a centre console boat. Especially at higher speed. The RIB still is seen by many as a highly stable boat type at higher speeds, due to the touchpoint with the pontoons and the water.